The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has firmly stated that there will be no reversal of the prohibition on the importation, production, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET containers, and glass bottles with a capacity of 200ml and below.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, maintained that the prohibition was implemented with the best interest of Nigerians in mind and to safeguard lives.
“The alcoholic content in sachet or PET bottles less than 200ml is 30 per cent. Beer has four to eight per cent alcohol. The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 that they will phase out production of alcohol in sachet and PET bottles less than 200 ml by January 31, 2024. The agreement document is available. A five-year phase-out notice should be sufficient.
“They say it’s going to lead to loss of jobs, but it can lead to loss of lives as well. So, which is more important? We are not going back (on the ban). We are doing this to save the lives of Nigerians, and commuters.
“The schoolchildren buy it and put it in their bags, so we are doing it to protect the children because they can’t take responsibility for themselves; so the leaders and adults need to take responsibility for them. Are we going to kill our children because the economy is bad?” she said.
